Propstore to auction rare Studio Ghibli animation art next month

Propstore will sell a curated group of rare Studio Ghibli production cels and artwork in its Animation Art Live Auction on July 8-9, 2026, with online, absentee and telephone bidding available. The sale and a free London exhibition give collectors a rare chance to buy or view original art from films including Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso and Princess Mononoke.

Why it matters: - The auction puts original Studio Ghibli animation art on the market, including pieces tied to some of the studio’s most iconic films. - Surviving production artwork from the hand-painted era is especially scarce, making the lots more attractive to collectors. - The sale underscores continued demand for anime and animation memorabilia with museum-level appeal.

What happened: - Propstore will offer a curated selection of rare Studio Ghibli animation art in its Animation Art Live Auction on July 8-9, 2026. - The two-day sale will run online globally through Propstore’s auction platform, with absentee and telephone bidding available. - Bidding starts each day at 03:00 PM BST / 07:00 AM PDT / 10:00 AM EDT. - Propstore will stage a free public exhibition at Borough Yards in London from July 2-5, 2026. - The exhibition will feature highlights from Western, anime and Japanese animation artwork before the auction. - More information is available through the exhibition listing.

The details: - The top highlight is an original production cel of Kiki on a Key Master background from Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989). - That piece includes its original hand-painted Key Master background and hand-painted background overlay. - The Kiki cel is estimated at $7,920-$15,840 (£6,000-£12,000). - Another key lot is an original production cel of Porco and Fio on a hand-painted production background from Porco Rosso (1992). - The Porco Rosso artwork shows Fio holding Porco after the final fight. - The Porco Rosso cel is also estimated at $7,920-$15,840 (£6,000-£12,000). - A Princess Mononoke (1997) cel featuring Ashitaka and Moro carries a pre-sale estimate of $3,960-$7,920 (£3,000-£6,000). - Princess Mononoke was Studio Ghibli’s most ambitious production to date and the highest-grossing film in Japan in 1997. - The Princess Mononoke piece comes from one of the last Ghibli features made predominantly with traditional hand-painted cels. - Other listed lots include a My Neighbor Totoro (1988) opening credits cel estimated at $2,640-$5,280 (£2,000-£4,000) and a Pom Poko (1994) Bunta cel estimated at $1,320-$2,640 (£1,000-£2,000). - The full catalog is available here, and registration is open.

Between the lines: - Propstore is leaning on Studio Ghibli’s reputation for craftsmanship and emotional storytelling to position the sale as more than a niche memorabilia auction. - The emphasis on original, hand-crafted production material suggests the strongest interest may come from serious animation collectors rather than casual fans. - The London exhibition gives the sale an extra marketing push and lets buyers see the artwork before bidding. - Russell Singler, Propstore’s Animation Art Expert, said the collection offers collectors a rare opportunity to own a genuine piece of Studio Ghibli history.

What's next: - Collectors can bid when the auction opens on July 8, 2026. - Fans in London can view the exhibition July 2-5, 2026 before the lots go under the hammer. - Propstore says more catalog items and event details are available now through its auction page.

The bottom line: - Propstore is turning a small group of rare Studio Ghibli originals into a marquee sale, with scarcity and franchise cachet likely to drive the bidding.